Baseball

Northridge Falls 1-0 to 'Eaters

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Cal State Northridge (19-24, 5-12) held UC Irvine (29-11, 8-6) scoreless through six, but Irvine matched the feat and eventually closed out the Matadors in a 1-0 shut out win.

Hann came out with guns blazing and worked to his best outing as a Matador. He retired the first nine men he faced and, after a bunt single by preseason All-American Ollie Linton, retired the next nine. Hann finished his day nearly unscathed, with the only damage done in the seventh inning.

In the seventh, Ben Orloff got aboard with a single and worked his way around on a Dillon Bell single and fielder's choice.

The Anteaters also had a scoring opportunity in the fourth but C.J. Belanger diffused it quickly. With speedster Linton aboard with a single, a stolen base and fielder's choice put the center fielder on third with one out. Bell flew a ball into right field that looked deep enough to score Linton, but Belanger had other plans. The sophomore gloved the fly before gunning down Linton at the dish.

Irvine also had an impressive pitching performance. Bryce Stowell matched Hann pitch-for-pitch and, despite allowing base runners in four of the first seven innings, kept Northridge out of scoring position until the eighth.

The Matadors' best scoring opportunity came in the seventh with the sacks clear. In that frame, Ryan Pineda sent a fast ball deep to left but straight into the wind, and the ball that looked like a home run off the at instead fell a few feet shy and into the glove of left fielder Francis Larson.

Northridge had the speedy Belanger on third in the eighth with one out and could not bring him in. In the ninth, it was Belanger up with two outs and a man in position at second but he bounced out to first base to end the contest.

Hann finished his day with 8.2 innings pitched having scattered four hits with six strikeouts. Just the one run crossed, and he faced the minimum through eight. UC Irvine didn't have any men to strand until the ninth, when they stranded their only one of the game.

Hann had been the only Matador to retire nine consecutive men twice in 2008; he accomplished the feat two separate times on Saturday.

Edwin Quadrate picked up the final out after head coach Steve Rousey brought him on to keep Linton honest with his outstanding pick off move.

Stowell finished with 7.2 innings pitched, eight strikeouts, and two hits surrendered. Tom Calahan came on to face Richard Cates in the eighth and the southpaw got Cates to fly out with men on the corners.

Northridge will look to Ryan Juarez Sunday for a chance to salvage a win in their series with UC Irvine. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.